Explosive and process of making same



HARRY ViT. KLINGER, (E'l B IENVIL, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOB T0 HERCULES POWDER GOIILTPANY, OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

EX'PLGSIVE AND PROCESS OF MAKING SAME.

ll'o Drawing.

To aZZ "LU/7207M it may concern:

lie it known that I, HARRY W. :KLINGER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kenvil, county of Morris, and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improvenient in Explosives and Processes of Making- Same, ot whichthe following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improved method of preparing a highly stable nitro starch explosive whereby such an explosive may he manufactured at a minimuu'i cost and will he safe and advantageous for com-- mercial use. Nitrated starch is well known as an explosive, but its use is restricted because of the high cost of its manufacture, unless the manufacturer be especially equipped for acid recovery, due to the difficulty of separating the niuro starch from the spent acids used in nitrating it.

Now the object of my invention is to erfect the nitration of starch in such a manner to permit of ready recovery of the spent acids and ready stabilization of the nitrated starch and at the same time to produce an explosive which Will be highly efiicient and safe for commercial use.

I have discovered that if starch he dissolved in glycerine and the solution nitratod he acids used in the nitration process will readily separate from the nitrated solution and-maybe readily recovered. Further, the nitrated starch in the solution may he readily stabilized by treatment of the solution with alkali. I

carrying out my invention in general I proceed as follows: A quantity of starch, om about parts to 30 parts is added to a quantity of glycerine, say from about d0 parts to 70 parts and to the mixture of starch and glycerine is added an acid, such as, for example, hydrochloric or sulfuric acid, to an amount by weight not exceeding about three per cent (3.0%) of the weight of the glycerine.

The mixture oi starch, glycerine and acid is then treated at a temperature of not GK- ceeding shout 2 for such a lehgt-h of time as is. rem L for the starch to he- Application filed May 19, 1922. Serial No. 552,141.

sulfuric acids in the usual manner. When nitration is complete, the nitrated solution is allowed to stand, permitting the spent acid to separate by gravity. The acids are then drawn oil, the intro-starch-nitroglycerine solution washed with water to remove the bulk of the dissolved acids, and treated With an alkali, such as sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, or sodium hydroxid, in Water, in order to purify it, the alkali solution at the same time acting to stabilize the nitrated starch. I

As an example of the method of producing the explosive in accordance with my invention, the following is typical, it being understood that I do not limit myself to the proportions of ingredients, temperatures, or particular steps set out, as they may be varied by those skilled in the art:

I add parts of ordinary starch to 85 parts of glycerinc, preferably of the grade known as dynamite glycerine. To the mixture of starch and glycerine, I add parts of hydrochloric acid and subject the mixture to a temperature of 220 F. for a period of about six hours. The heat and acid cause the starch to become converted into its soluble form and it goes-into solution in the glycerine.

When the starch is dissolved, about parts of-the solution are introduced into a nitrator and nitrated with ahout 100 parts of mixed acids of the approximate composition: nitric acid 49%, sulfuric acid 51%.

(in completion of the nitration to the de sired degrees, the nitrated solution is Withdrawn from the nitrator and the spent acids allowed to settle out. After settlement of the spent acids, they are drawn oil and the nitrated solution Washed with water at a temperature of about 115 F. to remove the hullr or' the dissolved acids. The nitrated solution is then purified and stabilized by washing with a solution of sodium carbonate in water at a temperature of about 115 F.

lVhile I have given a specific example for the carrying out of my invention, I do-not limit myself to the specific proportions of ingredients, temperatures or stcpsset out. I may use glycol or a mixture of glycols, for example, instead of glycerine, and where herein. I refer to g ycerine, l mean/to inelude glycols. l in use acids of i'arying alrous or containing ither Lilli.

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may use differentproportions oi -csrine and acids, and diii'er it alkali z n different strengths 'of SOlHi-lOHS, a: l the i emperi-ltures of treatmentmay be? varied.

ad from Nor would my inventionhe A if some ingredient notspecifieii for example, sugar were incorporased in c com-' position either insuspension 01 solution:

' Having now any described my inven tion, What 1 claim and desire Letters Patent is:

1.. The process comprising treating a mixture of starch and glycerine to convert the starch into a derivative soluble in ihe glycerine and nitrating the solution formed ,2 The process comprising mixing starch and glycerine, treating the mixture to converb the starch into a, product soluble in the glycerine, niirating the solution formed, removing the spentacid, and stabilizing the nitrated solution. I .3. The process comprising Heating-1a mixtors of starch and'glycerine 'wi'l'ha mineral acid to form a solution, nitrating the solie tion formed; removing the spent acid and stabilizing the nitrated solution. I

4. The processcomp 'ising treating a mix; ture of starch and glycerine with a mineral acid in the presence of heat to form a solution, nit-rating the solution formed, removing lzhe spent acid, and stabilizing the nitrated solution.

5. The process comprising hydrolyzing a mixture of starch and glycerine to form a solution, nitrating the solution formed, removing the spent acid, and stabilizing the mixture.

6. The process comprising treating a mechanical mixture of starch, relatively ii soluble in glycerine, and glycerine to form a solution, and nitrating the solution formed.

Z'. The process comprising mixing starch, relsfiively insoluble in glycerine, with glyccrinc, introducing a mineral acid into the mixture and treating to form a solution, nitrat to pin-tees by I and'stabilizing, I I

11. An explosive containing nitratcd glyc- "of three per cent of the Weight of the give-- erine, heating the mixture to ell'ect the formaiion ofa solution nitrating the solu-" tion l'orined removlng the spent acid and,

stabilizing the nitrated solution.

9. The process comprising mixing starch and glyccrine, treating thcinixture with a mmoral. acid to forms-solution, add ng sugar to the 'SOliiUOH, ultra-ting the solution "formed and treating ilie resultant t stabiiize if. l s 10, The

mixtureof starchandglyccrinewith i eralacicl in the presence of heat, niziiiating erine and a nitrated product injsoluiion in the 'glycerine,:sz1id pr= d1ict lie: nix foriimi'd be fore nitrating by treating sl-nrch in admin ture with g yoerine' toior'm a solution, the whole being stabilized.

'12. Ali-explosive containing nit-rated glyce'rine and a nitrated product in solution in the glycerine, said product being formed before nitrating by treating starch in admixture With the glyccrinc with a mineral acid, the Whole being stabilized.

13. An explosive mnlaining nilrated glycerine, nitrated sugar and a nitrated product in solution in the glyccrinc, said product being formed before nitration by treating starch in admixture with the glyccrine with a mineral acid. the whole bcin tabilized.

. a b T In testimony of which invention, 1 have hereunto set 111V hand. at Kem'il, New Jersey,

on this 9th day of May, 1922.

HARRY W. KLINGER.

recess coniprisin treaiiiis a" m v; a 

